ELEKS vs Cleveroad: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
ELEKS (4.0/5) edges ahead of Cleveroad (3.9/5) overall. ELEKS is the better choice for UK enterprise buyers wanting three and a half decades of delivery history. Cleveroad is the stronger option for UK buyers wanting a physically staffed Manchester office. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
ELEKS vs Cleveroad: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | ELEKS | Cleveroad |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1991 | 2011 |
| HQ | Lviv, Ukraine | New York, USA / Manchester, UK (Kharkiv delivery center) |
| Team size | 2,000+ | 150–300 (per company website; independently unverifiable precise figure) |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Longest continuous operating history on this list, delivered within easy UK working-hours overlap | A genuine Manchester office, distinguishing it from peers that only sell into the UK market remotely |
| Pricing model | Fixed-scope and dedicated-team enterprise engagements | Fixed-project and dedicated-team engagements |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Java, .NET, AWS | React, React Native, Node.js |
| Industries served | Healthcare, Insurance, Financial services | Retail, Logistics, Healthcare |
ELEKS vs Cleveroad: overview
ELEKS
Lviv sits one to two hours ahead of UK time depending on the season, close enough for a full overlapping working day, which matters for ELEKS specifically given the company has been running continuously from there since 1991, a year before Ukraine declared independence. That three-and-a-half-decade history has produced a deep healthcare, insurance, and fintech track record and a stable, senior-heavy delivery process. Its public positioning leans on decades of history more than any single sharp technical specialty.
Cleveroad
Cleveroad has hosted offices in New York, Los Angeles, Manchester, and Kharkiv since its 2011 founding, building general custom software and mobile apps for startups and mid-size businesses. That Manchester office is a genuine UK presence, distinguishing it from most of the peers on this list who only sell into the UK market without a physical local office. It competes primarily on general-purpose web and mobile delivery capacity rather than a named industry or technology niche.
Services and capabilities: ELEKS vs Cleveroad
| Capability | ELEKS | Cleveroad |
|---|---|---|
| Custom build | ✓ | ✓ |
| Consulting | ✗ | ✗ |
| Integration | ✗ | ✗ |
| Staff augmentation | ✗ | ✗ |
| Fixed-price projects | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dedicated team model | ✓ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: ELEKS vs Cleveroad
| Framework / platform | ELEKS | Cleveroad |
|---|---|---|
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| AWS | ✓ | N/A |
| Node.js | N/A | ✓ |
| Java | ✓ | N/A |
| .NET | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: ELEKS vs Cleveroad
| Criterion | ELEKS | Cleveroad |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Dedicated team, Fixed project, Consulting | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: ELEKS vs Cleveroad
| Dimension | ELEKS | Cleveroad |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Healthcare, Insurance, Financial services | Retail, Logistics, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | A UK insurance or financial services company modernizing a legacy core system., A buyer wanting real-time collaboration during UK working hours without a large timezone gap. | A UK startup wanting an actual Manchester office as its point of contact., A mid-market business needing general web or mobile software. |
| Typical project type | Dedicated team | Fixed project |
ELEKS vs Cleveroad: pros and cons
| ELEKS | |
|---|---|
| + | Longest operating history of any company on this list, since 1991. |
| + | One-to-two-hour timezone gap with the UK, close enough for full working-day overlap. |
| + | Deep, verified healthcare and insurance regulatory experience. |
| - | Broad enterprise-consultancy positioning rather than one sharply named technical specialty |
| - | No dedicated UK office, unlike Ciklum or Endava on this list |
| Cleveroad | |
|---|---|
| + | Genuine Manchester office, a real UK presence rather than remote sales coverage. |
| + | Multiple commercial offices in the US and UK give buyers a choice of contracting entity. |
| + | Over a decade of continuous operation since 2011. |
| - | General-purpose positioning without a clearly named technical specialization |
| - | Kharkiv is one of several offices rather than the company's sole delivery base |
Who should choose ELEKS?
A typical fit: a UK insurance or financial services company modernizing a legacy core system.
Longest continuous operating history on this list, delivered within easy UK working-hours overlap. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Healthcare, Insurance, Financial services.
Who should choose Cleveroad?
A typical fit: a UK startup wanting an actual Manchester office as its point of contact.
A genuine Manchester office, distinguishing it from peers that only sell into the UK market remotely. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Retail, Logistics, Healthcare.
Decision matrix: ELEKS vs Cleveroad
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | ELEKS |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | ELEKS |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: ELEKS (Not published) vs Cleveroad (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | ELEKS |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: ELEKS vs Cleveroad
| Use case | ELEKS fit | Cleveroad fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A UK insurance or financial services company modernizing a legacy core system. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| A buyer wanting real-time collaboration during UK working hours without a large timezone gap. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| A UK startup wanting an actual Manchester office as its point of contact. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| A mid-market business needing general web or mobile software. | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: ELEKS vs Cleveroad
ELEKS (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Software Outsourcing (UK) projects. Longest continuous operating history on this list, delivered within easy UK working-hours overlap.
Cleveroad (3.9/5) is worth a look if you need a mid-market business needing general web or mobile software. If your situation matches that, Cleveroad is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
ELEKS vs Cleveroad FAQ
Is ELEKS better than Cleveroad?
ELEKS (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. ELEKS's strongest advantage: longest operating history of any company on this list, since 1991. Cleveroad's strongest advantage: genuine Manchester office, a real UK presence rather than remote sales coverage.
How do ELEKS and Cleveroad differ in pricing?
ELEKS uses fixed-scope and dedicated-team enterprise engagements pricing. Cleveroad uses fixed-project and dedicated-team engagements pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: ELEKS or Cleveroad?
Cleveroad is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between ELEKS and Cleveroad?
ELEKS's primary differentiator is: longest continuous operating history on this list, delivered within easy UK working-hours overlap. Cleveroad's primary differentiator is: a genuine Manchester office, distinguishing it from peers that only sell into the UK market remotely. They also differ in team size (2,000+ vs 150–300 (per company website; independently unverifiable precise figure)), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Healthcare, Insurance vs Retail, Logistics).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.